Money and trust

STOCKTON - Dean Andal, an outspoken critic of the city's 3/4-cent sales tax proposal, made his opposition clear in a forum Monday night, where about 150 residents came seeking firsthand insight.

Scott Smith

STOCKTON - Dean Andal, an outspoken critic of the city's 3/4-cent sales tax proposal, made his opposition clear in a forum Monday night, where about 150 residents came seeking firsthand insight.

Vote no on measures A and B, said Andal, a former state assemblyman. He'd like in their place in June a restricted tax earmarking the money for police, taking control away from a deceptive City Council, he said.

Councilwoman Kathy Miller delivered a counterpoint to him.

"Mr. Andal has been saying no for years and years," Miller said. "Saying no is not a strategy. Saying no is not a plan."

Miller, who described herself as a mother, small-business owner and "not a professional politician," said she's talked to residents, who want safe neighborhoods to raise their children.

The tax increase on the Nov. 5 ballot would give them that, she said.

A panel of five took center stage for the forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of San Joaquin County. Andal and Miller led the event at Central United Methodist Church.

Bob Deis, Stockton's city manager, who has less than one month left on the job before he exits in retirement, had been expected to sit on the panel, but at the last minute, organizers said Miller was to take his place.

Susan Mora Loyko, a League of Women Voters' spokeswoman, said city officials decided it would be better to have a representative who would be here beyond the November election.

Miller was joined by Douglass Wilhoit, Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce CEO and also a backer of the tax measures.

Jeffrey Michael, director of the Business Forecasting Center at University of the Pacific, and David Renison, president of the San Joaquin County Taxpayers Association, also took part.

Despite being accused of having no plan, Andal said he wants the city to take on pension reforms contracted through the California Public Employees' Retirement System.

The city can accomplish that by making sure no retired employee draws an annual pension of more than $100,000, Andal said, adding that a 10-year sunset provision spelled out in the tax measures will be ineffective.

The city also needs to build into its charter language institution of a rainy-day fund to head off future difficult years, he said.

"This is the phoniest measure we've ever been asked to vote on," Andal said. The tax is expected to generate $280 million over 10 years.

"We need to be sure that the money is spent on what it's supposed to be, not on vague promises by a City Council that has betrayed us so many times," he said.

Miller said the cost of not passing measures A and B could be dramatic. The city anticipates an $11 million deficit even after making deals in bankruptcy court.

The tax, which requires the approval of 50 percent of voters plus one, would plug that deficit and allow Stockton to fully implement the Marshall Plan on Crime, which sets out to expand the police force by 120 officers and institutes anti-gang programs.

The residents Miller said she's talked to in recent weeks about the tax increase tell her they want safe neighborhoods. CalPERS and pension reform don't creep into those conversations, Miller said.

"This city needs more revenue," Miller said. "This city needs to be safer. A general tax gives us that ability."